Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he was unhappy with José Mourinho's defensive tactics against Barcelona, while implying that Real Madrid would have settled for a 0-0 draw at the Bernabéu.

Asked if he liked the kind of football Madrid had played in the turbulent 2-0 defeat in the Champions League semi-final first leg, the £80m winger said: "No, I don't like it but I have to adapt to what is asked of me." He added: "This is the way it is. We have a strategy."

Ronaldo cut a picture of frustration. Having initially been asked to play as a lone striker he was seen imploring his reluctant team-mates to get forward and support him. When he was then switched to the right to take on Carles Puyol, who was being played out of position at left-back, he found himself starved of the ball as Mourinho's side pursued their policy of containment.

"Being honest, it is true that we did not have a shot on target when it was 11 against 11 but 0-0 is not a bad result at home. We could have gone [to Camp Nou] and scored. We didn't play well but the game was under control."

Before the match the talk was of a head-to-head with Leo Messi over who could lay claim to being the world's greatest player but in the event the Portuguese winger found himself overshadowed.

"Messi?" he replied, when asked about the Argentinian's two goals. "It's easier against 10 men. I would like to play against 10 men too, like he does. It is no excuse but they always play against ten men.

"I don't understand why this always happens. I couldn't talk to the referee because if I had I would have got a card for sure. The ref sent off Pepe: what more can I say? Every year is the same.

"I feel bad for us and for Mourinho – because it always happens to him. Barcelona are a great team but these guys have a lot of power off the pitch too. Chelsea, Inter, Arsenal. It's always the same. Is that a coincidence?"